Building a Modern In-House Legal Function
Part 2: Beyond the Dashboard
Legal leaders are increasingly expected to demonstrate value, make the case for resources, and contribute to strategic business decisions. Yet many legal departments still struggle to translate the work they do into information that is meaningful to executives and boards. Activity alone rarely tells the full story. The more important question is whether Legal can use its data to provide insight into demand, risk, capacity, and where the function can have the greatest impact.
In Part 2 of our From Reactive to Strategic Operations Lab series, we’ll explore how in-house legal teams can move beyond anecdotal evidence, and spreadsheets to develop reporting that supports better reporting and decision-making. We’ll consider what is worth measuring, how to distinguish useful insight from reporting for reporting’s sake, and how data can help Legal have more informed conversations with the business.
The discussion will focus on using data not simply to demonstrate how busy Legal is, but to better understand how the function is operating and where change may be needed. We’ll look at how thoughtful reporting can reveal trends and bottlenecks, inform decisions about resources and priorities, and help Legal communicate its contribution to broader business objectives.
What we’ll explore:
Meet the Speakers
This Operations Lab is sponsored by LawVu and will feature:
Neil and Melanie will bring their experience working with in-house legal teams to a practical discussion about how legal leaders can make better use of the information already available to them and develop reporting that supports stronger conversations with the business.
Unable to attend?
Nominate a member of your team who is responsible for legal operations, reporting and analytics, technology, process improvement, or legal service delivery to attend in your place.
In Part 2 of our From Reactive to Strategic Operations Lab series, we’ll explore how in-house legal teams can move beyond anecdotal evidence, and spreadsheets to develop reporting that supports better reporting and decision-making. We’ll consider what is worth measuring, how to distinguish useful insight from reporting for reporting’s sake, and how data can help Legal have more informed conversations with the business.
The discussion will focus on using data not simply to demonstrate how busy Legal is, but to better understand how the function is operating and where change may be needed. We’ll look at how thoughtful reporting can reveal trends and bottlenecks, inform decisions about resources and priorities, and help Legal communicate its contribution to broader business objectives.
What we’ll explore:
- Which legal metrics provide meaningful insight for executives and boards
- How to use reporting to communicate Legal’s impact, rather than simply its activity
- How data can reveal trends, bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and opportunities for improvement
- Practical ways to build a more data-informed legal function without creating unnecessary reporting burden
Meet the Speakers
This Operations Lab is sponsored by LawVu and will feature:
- Neil Smith, Legal Transformation & Operations Lead, LawVu
- Melanie Shafer, VP of Customer Experience, LawVu
Neil and Melanie will bring their experience working with in-house legal teams to a practical discussion about how legal leaders can make better use of the information already available to them and develop reporting that supports stronger conversations with the business.
Unable to attend?
Nominate a member of your team who is responsible for legal operations, reporting and analytics, technology, process improvement, or legal service delivery to attend in your place.
Location
Zoom link will be sent via calendar invite
Date & Time
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET
Speakers
Neil Smith
LawVu
Melanie Shafer
LawVu
THE GC COLLECTIVE
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Rooted in the values of Connection, Growth, Leadership, and Well-Being, The GC Collective is more than a community—it’s a collective designed to transform the way General Counsel lead, connect, and thrive.